AIDS activist playwright Larry Kramer is dead at 84Larry Kramer, the playwright whose angry voice and pen raised theatergoers’ consciousness about AIDS and roused thousands to militant protests in the early years of the epidemic, has died at 84.

Memorial Day weekend draws throngs despite pandemic; Dr. Birx of White House coronavirus task force is ‘very concerned’ over crowd scenes Many disregard social-distancing rules as summer kicks offThe Memorial Day weekend marking the unofficial start of summer in the U.S. meant big crowds at beaches and warnings from authorities Sunday about people disregarding the coronavirus social-distancing rules and risking a resurgence of the scourge that has killed nearly 100,000 Americans.

Coronavirus update: More than a million people have recovered; Trump pushes China conspiracy theory Exxon Mobil posts first quarterly loss in decades, and Clorox produces a blowout report thanks to demand for disinfecting productsThe number of patients that have recovered from the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 rose to more than a million on Friday, offering a rare piece of good news in the pandemic that has caused more than 230,000 deaths and tanked economies around the world.

Trump fails the ultimate test as president: Protecting us from risks as only the federal government can Risks come in many forms — terrorist attacks, natural disasters and, yes, pandemics. The U.S. will now need new leadership and an overhaul of our risk-management systemsRisks come in many forms — terrorist attacks, natural disasters and, yes, pandemics. The U.S. will now need new leadership and an overhaul of our risk-management systems.

This conservative economist says President Trump’s plan to reopen the economy fails in crucial ways The federal government needs to lead in coronavirus testing, tracking and isolation What we now have are guidelines that are too general to be useful and a patchwork response by states that will be much less effective than an assertive — and funded — national plan.

10 years after BP spill: Oil drilled deeper and environmental rules relaxed Industry advocates say there’s now a greater emphasis on complex systems that influence safety and fewer, if bigger, active oil platformsTen years after an oil rig explosion killed 11 workers and unleashed an environmental nightmare in the Gulf of Mexico, companies are drilling into deeper and deeper waters, where the payoffs can be huge but the risks are greater than ever.

The Devil Wears Joggers: Even Anna Wintour is living in sweatpants during the pandemic Meanwhile, an LA Times column is getting slammed for telling people not to work from home in sweatpantsMeanwhile, an LA Times column is getting slammed for telling people not to work from home in sweatpants

New York City’s homeless face additional challenges during COVID-19 Social distancing within shelters and cuts to staffing of service organizations pose problems to a group that is already vulnerableSocial distancing within shelters and cuts to staffing of service organizations pose problems to a group that is already vulnerable.

Trillions in coronavirus spending could explode deficits to World War II levels The U.S. could add $5 trillion in deficit spending in the fight vs. COVID-19The trillions of dollars Washington is spending to combat COVID-19 is likely to push annual deficits relative to the size of the U.S. economy close to levels last seen during the 2007-2009 Great Recession — or even World War Two.

Government should say to businesses: Don’t lay anyone off — we got this! Lost income of workers and businesses should be replaced by new form of social insurance, argue Berkeley economistsThe government can prevent a very sharp but short recession from becoming a long-lasting depression.

CDC: Gatherings of 50 or more people should be canceled or postponed for next 8 weeks Ohio, Illinois order bars, restaurants shut; NYC orders restaurants to be takeout or delivery onlyOfficials across the country curtailed many elements of American life to fight the coronavirus outbreak on Sunday, with health officials recommending that groups of 50 or more don’t get together and a government expert saying a 14-day national shutdown may be needed.

Finally, signs of a crackdown on emotional support animals on airplanes A plan would reclassify emotional support animals as pets and restrict free aircraft cabin access to service dogsThere’s a 60-day public comment period for a government plan that would reclassify emotional support animals as pets and restrict free aircraft cabin access to service dogs.

Almost a quarter of California under drought conditions after bone-dry February Sierra snowpack at less than half of averageA dry beginning of the year has left most of California abnormally parched, as officials brace for the possibility of an early and more intense wildfire season amid record-breaking temperatures.

Three years into Trump presidency, his ‘immediate’ replacement for ‘Obamacare’ hasn’t emerged White House officials argue that the president is improving the health-care system in other waysAs a candidate, Donald Trump repeatedly promised he would “immediately” replace President Barack Obama’s signature health-care law with a plan of his own that would provide “insurance for everybody” and be “much less expensive and much better.”

Don’t be too quick to give the economy the all-clear signal Recession risk abates, but there are plenty of reasons to be cautiousThere are still many reasons to be cautious about the U.S. and global economies

Mulvaney’s latest comments about Trump raise more eyebrows Acting chief of staff says the president ‘still considers himself to be in the hospitality business’Mick Mulvaney is struggling with the job of defending his boss, the president

Hexo stock dives after downgrade, dragging cannabis sector lower Aurora Cannabis slides 7% after MKM lowers its stock price target Hexo Corp. shares took another bath on Monday, after Seaport Global downgraded the stock along with market leader Canopy Growth, in a note that advises investors to switch out of Canadian cannabis stocks and into U.S. multistate operators.

Papa John’s stock surges, upgraded three times after new leadership brings hope for fast change Papa John’s founder John Schnatter still has “reservations,” but thinks firing the CEO was a good decisionAnalysts are bullish after news that Papa John’s has a new CEO with restaurant turnaround experience.

Fed’s Bullard says he has one more interest-rate cut ‘penciled in’ this year Uncertainty over trade policy is here to stay, St. Louis Fed president saysSt. Louis Fed President James Bullard on Tuesday said he has one more interest-rate cut penciled in for 2019.

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